AquaSurge

Party Girls

As Alex busied herself with preparations for an outing with her friends, her mother entered her room, a curious expression on her face.

"So, you have new friends and you didn't tell me?" her mother inquired, a hint of concern lacing her voice.

"They're just girls from school," Alex replied casually, slipping on her shoes and attempting to dismiss her mother's worries.

"What are their names?" her mother pressed on, her curiosity piqued.

"Cleo Sertori, Emma Gilbert, and Rikki Chadwick," Alex answered, her mind already drifting to the plans she had made with her friends.

"And how's that going?" her mother inquired further, a note of caution in her tone.

"Um, good. Almost done with it," Alex replied vaguely, hoping to divert her mother's attention away from any potential concerns.

"We're doing it on Mako Island. We're planning on heading back out there sometime soon," Alex added, hoping to reassure her mother of their harmless intentions.

"Maybe I'll go with you girls. Since the last time you were out there, I was contacted by the water police," her mother stated firmly, her concern evident in her tone.

"No!" Alex exclaimed, a sense of panic rising within her. "No. We'll be fine. We won't get into trouble this time. I swear. Lewis has a boat that we'll use to go out. Don't worry."

"Who's Lewis?" her mother inquired, her curiosity piqued by the mention of a new name.

"Cleo's friend. I think he has a crush on her, but I'm not totally sure," Alex explained quickly, eager to assuage her mother's concerns and avoid any further interrogation.

"I'll be home later, okay?" Alex said as she grabbed her tote bag from the closet door knob, already heading towards the door.

With a nod of acknowledgment, Alex's mother watched her daughter leave, her mind buzzing with a mix of worry and curiosity about her daughter's newfound friendships and the adventures that lay ahead.

Upon arriving at Emma's house, Alex was greeted by her friend, who welcomed her inside with a warm smile. As Emma disappeared into another room to gather some items, Alex settled into a chair in the living room.

Emma descended the stairs with a bag slung over her shoulder, her excitement palpable as she addressed Alex. "Okay. We're meeting Lewis at the dock, right?"

"Yep, to my knowledge. Someone has to carry our stuff while we're underwater," Alex quipped, a playful grin tugging at her lips. "Let's go."

With a shared sense of anticipation, the two girls made their way down to the dock, where they found Lewis already waiting in his small boat.

"Hey ladies," Lewis greeted with a smile. "Ready?"

"Yep," Alex confirmed, tossing her bag into Lewis' boat.

Following suit, Emma deposited her bag into the boat.

Taking a quick glance around to ensure no one was watching, Alex turned to Emma with a questioning look. "Ready?"

Emma responded by grabbing Alex's hand, their fingers intertwining in a silent gesture. "Ready."

With a shared nod, the girls took a deep breath and plunged into the warm water, their bodies effortlessly sinking towards the sandy bottom below.

Bubbles danced around them as they descended, the water enveloping their figures in a shimmering embrace. Moments later, their legs fused together, transforming into vibrant orange mermaid tails.